Obtaining an IP address dynamically
A BOOTP client dynamically obtains an IP address from a BOOTP server as follows:
The BOOTP client broadcasts a BOOTP request, which contains its own MAC address.
Upon receiving the request, the BOOTP server searches the configuration file for the IP address and other information according to the BOOTP client's MAC address.
The BOOTP server returns a BOOTP response to the BOOTP client.
The BOOTP client obtains the IP address from the received response.
A DHCP server can take the place of the BOOTP server in the following dynamic IP address acquisition.